A scalable platform for commercialization of two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Spectroscopy is ubiquitous as a research tool in science and a characterization tool for industrial processes. A common problem in one dimensional (one frequency variable) spectroscopy is that the spectral features are unresolvable due to congestion, thus rendering the diagnostic useless. Here, we present a powerful and robust solution to this longstanding problem that will result in the World's first commercial 2D Electronic Spectrometer. Background of the technology: Decades ago, the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) community provided a solution to the spectral congestion problem via 2D-NMR. Commercial 2D-NMR spectrometers (e.g. Bruker) are in most Chemistry departments now, costing $0.5 - $5M. In order to probe higher optical frequencies, commercial FTIR and UV-VIS are available. Very recently, ultrafast time resolved 1D spectrometers have been commercialized: www.ultrafastsystems.com. What remains lacking is a commercial equivalent of 2D-NMR for optical frequencies: a Two Dimensional Electronic Spectrometer. The barrier to commercialization of 2D electronic spectroscopy has been the enormous complexity of the experiment. Here, we will create a unified platform for performing meeting all possible customer needs in this emergent scientific market space. Our solution is easily scalable to three configurations that that can perform all possible 2DE experiments, thereby enabling price/performance optimization to meet the market needs. Anticipated outcomes: The opportunity now exists to be the first to commercialize this spectroscopy tool. Such a tool would be attractive to researchers and industrial users worldwide, with a unit cost of ~$300,000, not unlike NMR instruments now sold by Bruker. The NSERC I2I will enable us to capitalize upon this opportunity by providing funding for personnel required to carry out the final diagnostic and optimization processes necessary before licensing the technology to an industrial partner. Since a local partner has been identified, we anticipate active collaboration and training of HQP in this space.